Ready, set, goal - 2017 intentions

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” ~ Brad Paisley

In about twenty days we begin a New Year, and since I am motivated by intentions, goals, and resolutions, I always explore ways to improve my life, discover new paths and create change while uncovering ways to attain something new. 

This year instead of just coming into the year with too many goals that fall away, I created monthly goals of transformation, small things that can make a big difference, forging a shift and promoting change, generating a positive start to a new beginning with a timeline to look back on and record. 

It is within these small steps where we uncover who we are meant to be, exploring the opportunities and encouraging  the space to flourish. This year JOY will  represent my word for 2017  and I plan to seek it with every opportunity available. Not  only with gratitude but lasting happiness in the JOY that surrounds me each day.

From The Book of JOY, the University of Glasgow suggests that there are really only four fundamental emotions, three of which are so-called negative emotions: fear, anger, and sadness. The only positive one is joy or happiness. Exploring joy is nothing less than exploring what makes human experience satisfying.

To document joy, I will write weekly blog posts titled:  What brought you JOY as I infuse my word into my days.

Daily gratitude journals will continue with an opportunity for my creative side to be entertained while appreciating the  abundance of good that surrounds me. 

Projects and courses will include: Cathy Z, Me Abridged, Scrapbook your year as well as Project Life, The conscious booksmith and other creative courses along the way.

And a year would not be complete without my running goals of 1000 miles and 17 races in 2017

Monthly goals

• January - Cleanse -  Meditation & abstinence from alcohol 
• February - Provide (time, talent or treasure)
• March -  Read & Write (morning pages, life handbook, story telling)
• April - Abandon facebook - Digital diet (Create new habit)
• May - Active - 3-mile run or walk every day 
• June - All about me (celebrating life each day during the month of my birth) (link to 53 ways)
• July - New beginnings (fitness, faith, education, and family)
• August - Reduce, Re-use, Recycle (a month of clearing out, saving and reusing) 
• September - No made in China (awareness in purchases)
• October - Favorite things (a daily celebration of my favorite things) 
• November - Gratitude - 30 days of grateful intentions 
• December - Pay it forward (with acts of kindness throughout the month)

What do you hope to fill your year with? Start making your list...